This publication is the Teacher Guide to the "What If...Series," a series of four booklets containing readings and activities which will help secondary students and adults learn about the political and legal systems and acquire effective coping skills. Topics treated in the booklets are: how a bill becomes a law; the rights of the arrested; how to use a ballot; and what the court structure is. The materials are intended for use in secondary schools and in naturalization and High School Equivalency Programs. The booklets are written at two reading levels -- Set 1 at grade 4,5 and Set 2 at grade 7,8 -- yet content activities and paging of both sets are the same. The process for teaching the series has four steps. First students become aware of the basic facts and issues on topics through readings, audiovisuals, and directed discussion. The second step is teaching the students coping skills such as seeking information over the telephone, filling out forms, using a voting machine, and interviewing an official. Students then meet professionals such as lawyers, judges, and state legislators who are invited into the classroom for interviews, debates, or role plays. The fourth step involves students in using the community as a classroom to reinforce and apply the skills they learned in class. Evaluation and record keeping instruments are included in the guide. Training sessions can be arranged by contacting the staff of the Institute for Political and Legal Education. (Author/RM)